Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 17.djvu/513

Y N E Y 471 24-33 per cent. ; in Scotland, 10 77; in Ireland, 10 08; in "Wales, 40; in Australia and Tasmania, 3 53; in British America, 073; in other British possessions, 82; in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, 97; in Germany, 98; in United States, 35; in China, T03; and elsewhere, 0*41. The excess of immigration over emigration for the ten years 1872-81 was 4973, 8811, 38,106, 25,270, 11,955, 6376, 10,502, 18,723, 7231, and 1616 persons respectively. The great decrease in the last two years is owing to the stoppage, almost wholly, of immigration at public cost. The proportionate number in 1881 of occupied European holdings of land, exclusive of crown pastoral leases, classified according to size is as follows : holdings over 1 acre and up to 10 acres in clusive, 7680 ; thence up to 50 acres, 6498 ; to 100, 4462 ; to 200, 5066 ; to 320, 2453 ; to 640, 2258 ; to 1000, 828 ; to 5000, 1097 ; to 10,000, 185 ; to 20,000, 169 ; to 50,000, 111 ; to 100,000, 18 ; and above 100,000, 7 ; total, 30,832. It has always been difficult to collect the number of the aboriginal population. In 1878 the number returned was 43,595; in 1881 44,097, of whom 19,729 were females. Those residing in the North Island were 22,872 males, and 18,729 females. The apparent increase in 1881 is believed by the registrar-general to be attributable to omissions in 1878. His conclusion is that on the whole there was a decrease from 1878 to 1881. If former estimates, partly conjectural, are at all correct, the decrease during the last forty years has been considerable. The comparatively small pro portion of females under fifteen years of age to the total population of both sexes in 1881, given as 15 35 per cent., renders future increase improbable. Generally, Maoris are in form middle-sized and well-made. They show great aptitude for European habits. The Maoris are of Polynesian race ; and the probability is that they migrated from the Navigators Islands to Rarotonga, and thence to New Zealand. Their tradition is that they came originally from " Hawaiki." This may be the Hawaiian or Sandwich Islands ; but there is also " Savii, " which is a dialectical form of the other name, in the Navigators Islands. Dr Thomson, in his Story of New Zealand, quotes a Maori tradition, among those published by Sir George Grey, that certain islands, among which it names Rarotonga, Parima, and Manono, are islands near Hawaiki. The natives of Rarotonga state that their ancestors came from Hawaiki ; and Pirima and Manono are the native names of two islands in the Navigators group. The almost identical languages of the Rarotonga natives and the Maoris, as well as other circumstantial evidence, strengthen the supposition. The distance from Rarotonga is about 3000 miles ; and, with the aid of the trade wind, large canoes could traverse the distance within a month. A comparison of genealogies of Maori chiefs of different tribes shows that about eighteen genera tions, or probably not much more than five hundred years, have passed since the first migration. The origin and distribution of the Polynesian race cannot be discussed here, but there is in some respects a remarkable likeness in the customs, appearance, and character of Maoris and of Malays. The Maoris, before their conversion, had no idea of a Supreme Being. Their notion was that all things had been produced by pro cess of generation from darkness and nothingness. They believed that the spirit survives the body, and retires to some place under the earth, whence it occasionally returns to advise and sometimes punish the living. The Maoris are divided into tribes, which respectively had their chiefs and priests. Land was held by tribal tenure, and small plots were cultivated. Each tribe had its unwritten laws regarding land, cultivation, and other social matters. " Tapu," or the practice of making certain things sacred, a rule, the breach of which was severely punished by spirits and men, was an essential element in their code of law. Tribes were constantly fighting with each other ; and the chief causes of strife arose from alleged wrongs to property and person. Cannibalism was practised from vindictive feelings. Slaves were captives in war. The dead bodies of chiefs were put away on stages ; and in course of time the bones were collected and hidden in secret places. The Maoris have a genius for war, and show great ability in building, fortifying, and defending stocka-les. The Maori language is a Polynesian dialect. It closely approaches that of the Sandwich Islands, of the Navigators group, and of Rarotonga. Natives of these mutually understand each other. The first European discoverer of New Zealand was Tasman, in 1642, who did not, however, land there. Captain Cook, in 1769, was the first European who set foot on its shores, and he took formal possession of the country for King George III. Cook visited New Zealand several times, and circumnavigated the coasts in the course of his three voyages of discovery, exploring and partly sur veying the general outline. He introduced several useful animals and plants ; and pigs, fowls, potatoes, turnips, and cabbages, first brought by him, increased and multiplied. From the time of Captain Cook s final departure from New Zealand in 1777 to 1814, little is known of the country, except that, owing to the ferocity and cannibalism of its aborigines, it was a terror to sailors. In 1814 the Rev. Samuel Marsden, colonial chaplain to the Government of New South "Wales, first established his church mission in New Zealand at the Bay of Islands. He was followed by others ; and both Protestant and Roman Catholic missions were formed. In the course of the following thirty years almost the whole native population was converted, nominally at least, to Christianity. There was in after years a considerable relapse ; but the results of missionary teaching were, as a whole, great and permanent. Cannibalism ceased, and the barbarous nature of the race became softened and capable of civilization. The missionary paved the way for the colonist. In February 1840 an assemblage of chiefs at the Bay of Islands signed the treaty of Waitangi acknowledging their submission to the queen of England ; and Her Majesty guaranteed their possessions, extended to them her protection, and imparted to them the rights and privileges of British subjects. This treaty was shortly after wards signed by many other chiefs in other parts of both islands. Cavil as persons may at the treaty, there is no doubt that it is the honourable and equitable agreement on which New Zealand first became a British colony. The leading features of the colonization of the country, so far as the natives are concerned, can only be most briefly summarized here. The rights of the natives to their lands have been fully recognized by the crown ; and no land has been alienated from them without their consent except in the case of the confiscated blocks which were taken under the authority of a special law from rebellious tribes. The native title to land has not been confined to that in actual use, but has extended over waste territory. The Government and the legislature have always been disposed to consider favourably native interests ; an .1 special action has often been taken for that object. Mistakes have, no doubt, often been made on both sides ; and serious disputes have arisen. Native tribes, here and there, have been in active insurrection, but at no time have the natives, as a race, been arrayed in arms against Britain. A large majority has either been passive or friendly. The most serious disturbances took place in 1863 and 1864. During that time several British regiments and ships of war were, in common with the colonial forces, actively engaged in their sup pression. No imperial soldiers have been stationed in New Zealand since 1869. The colony has from that date altogether provided for its internal defence. The present state of native affairs is peaceful, and likely, with ordinary prudence, to remain so. In many dis tricts the gradual amalgamation of the two races is hopeful, natives and Europeans co-operating with each other in a common civiliza tion. (W. GI.) NEY, MICHEL (1769-1815), one of the bravest of Napoleon s marshals, was born at Saarlouis on January 10, 1769. His father, who had been a soldier, gave him a fairly good education, and obtained for him an appoint ment in some neighbouring mines. But his heart was set on the army, and in 1787 he went to Metz and enlisted in a regiment of hussars. But for the Eevolution he could never have become more than a sergeant, but in the new state of things he was elected lieutenant, and after wards (1792) captain of his regiment. He was aide-de camp to General Lamarque in March 1793, and soon after became lieutenant-colonel, when Kle"ber perceived his eminent military ability, and made him adjutant- general in August 1794. He was promoted colonel in September, and his merits were so great that Jourdan and Kle ber actually quarrelled which should have the advant age of his services. In February 1795 he might have become general of brigade, but modestly refused the rank, alleging his own unworthiness. He commanded the advanced guard of Kleber at the battle of Altenkirchen, and was made general of brigade on the field of Forchheim. He then commanded the right wing of Hoche s army, and in 1798 took Mannheim. Sent next to Switzerland, he there reorganized Masse"na s cavalry, and immensely dis tinguished himself in Masse"na s great campaign, in which he was three times wounded, and after which he was made general of division. In 1799 he commanded on the Rhine, and by his skilful operations obtained the armistice during which the coup d etat of Brumaire took place. In 1801 he was present at Hohenlinden, and in May 1802 he married Mademoiselle Auguie , whom Josephine had chosen for him at Bonaparte s request. He became inspector- general of cavalry, and, after a short residence as minister in Switzerland, commandant of the camp of Montreuil. It was while there that in the name of the army he begged Napoleon to declare himself emperor, and on the establish-